Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Soils4Africa (Soil Information System for Africa)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-12-01 bis 2023-05-31
Existing soil databases for Africa are often compilations of datasets generated for different purposes, and therefore based on varying methods for soil sampling and analysis. The data were collected using purposive sampling, analysed using conventional soil laboratory methods thus rarely providing direct measurements based on sound (geo)statistical sampling frames. These introduce a strong bias in the data and make accurate assessment of the occurrence of soil constraints, quantification of risk factors and reliable assessments of change in soil health/quality difficult. Further, the available data are seldom shared as open data.
The EU funded H2020 project Soils4Africa (Soil information system for Africa) aims to develop a soil information system (SIS) based on a sound sampling framework, uniform, well-documented data gathering methodologies and can be used for future soil quality monitoring at continental scale, and for national level soil data collection and monitoring. The resulting SIS will be hosted and maintained by an African institution that has undergone the capacity building necessary for the purpose. Main objectives are to:
• Define use cases for the SIS, including indicators to support them, in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Design the SIS and produce guidelines and protocols for the fieldwork and laboratory analyses based on the LUCAS (Land use and land cover survey) methodology
• Conduct a field campaign to collect soil samples at 20,000 locations in accordance with a uniform protocol
• Extend the laboratory at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC) with facilities for spectral analysis and analyse all samples for standard parameters plus heavy metals and pesticides residues in a selected number of samples
• Develop the technical infrastructure for the SIS and populate the SIS with the collected data and indicators
The project has made important steps towards the actual production of exploitable results with significant immediate or potential impact including a sampling design for representative soil sampling at a continental scale; a map of agricultural land in Africa, guidelines and protocols for field survey, and an innovative survey data management tool (SDMT) among others. The project outputs are accessible at: www.soils4africa-h2020.eu.
The EU funded H2020 project Soils4Africa (Soil information system for Africa) aims to develop a soil information system (SIS) based on a sound sampling framework, uniform, well-documented data gathering methodologies and can be used for future soil quality monitoring at continental scale, and for national level soil data collection and monitoring. The resulting SIS will be hosted and maintained by an African institution that has undergone the capacity building necessary for the purpose. Main objectives are to:
• Define use cases for the SIS, including indicators to support them, in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Design the SIS and produce guidelines and protocols for the fieldwork and laboratory analyses based on the LUCAS (Land use and land cover survey) methodology
• Conduct a field campaign to collect soil samples at 20,000 locations in accordance with a uniform protocol
• Extend the laboratory at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC) with facilities for spectral analysis and analyse all samples for standard parameters plus heavy metals and pesticides residues in a selected number of samples
• Develop the technical infrastructure for the SIS and populate the SIS with the collected data and indicators
The project has made important steps towards the actual production of exploitable results with significant immediate or potential impact including a sampling design for representative soil sampling at a continental scale; a map of agricultural land in Africa, guidelines and protocols for field survey, and an innovative survey data management tool (SDMT) among others. The project outputs are accessible at: www.soils4africa-h2020.eu.
Soils4Africa project is structured in 7 work packages for efficient realisation of its objectives. The project consortium comprises organisations in Europe and Africa and is coordinated by the International Soil Reference and Information Center, ISRIC.
The project has implemented and monitored tasks through operational procedures and tools, various technical, operational and management meetings and consultations of consortium bodies and with the EU Project Officer. The project has designed and implements an adaptive communication strategy, including the development and maintenance of the project website through which the public can access project results and updates. The project also created social media platforms including a Twitter profile, LinkedIn profile, Facebook group, YouTube channel and newsletters to facilitate interaction with potential SIS users and the general public. This increased project awareness and generated useful feedback for the project activities.
A data management plan (DMP) and a plan for exploitation and dissemination of results (PEDR) have been developed and updated yearly in response to developments and feedback. The most recent versions are published on the project website www.soils4africa-h2020.eu.
The project also completed necessary activities to ensure compliance of its activities with relevant ethics requirements and undertakes relevant update actions in this regard.
Relevant stakeholders in soil and land use sector across Africa were identified and contacted for contribution to the development of the Soil Information System. The stakeholders include researchers, farmers, planners, policy makers, private sector agencies, NPOs and NGOs. Information from the stakeholder interviews and discussions were used in defining use cases for the SIS. The project engaged identified stakeholder groups, under the umbrella of the LEAP4FNSSA and CAADP to discuss the strategies for embedding the SIS into the knowledge platform of the FNSSA for effective contribution sustainable agricultural intensification in Africa, and to provide information on the SIS to policymakers and high-level organs to gain their buy-in and endorsement for the SIS. Currently, a sustainability strategy for the SIS is being developed, which will also provide guidance on selection of a hosting institution for the SIS.
The methodology for the SIS was designed and submitted to the EU after presentation to the project steering committee. A summary of further work done is outlined below:
• An inventory of soil data for Africa that is represented in the ISRIC-WDC holdings was carried out
• The soil sampling design was developed, which forms the basis for the ongoing soil survey work in the project. The sampling design is updated when necessitated, for example to access issues inaccessibility to sampling sites arising from security issues. This is done in a systematic way, safeguarding the integrity of results.
• A method for deriving selected soil quality indicators was developed and soil parameters that will be measured identified.
• Detailed guidelines were developed for the field survey and laboratory analysis. These formed the basis for the field protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), instruction manuals and survey management tools that were developed.
• An approach for the assessment of soil pollution with pesticide residues in a subset of soil samples was also developed.
• Laboratory upgrade and training of laboratory staff in spectroscopy were done and health & Safety plan drafted in preparation for the soil analysis.
• A map of agricultural land of Africa was generated in this period, which serves as a mask of continental Africa from which the sampling locations are subsequently selected.
• User requirements for the IT infrastructure was developed and Technical requirements for the SIS were defined and design of the SIS drafted
• Training of supervisors and field teams in the use the field protocols, SOPs and supporting tools have been carried out. The training is ongoing and updates to training materials communicated when these are made.
• The field campaign is ongoing and lab analysis (wet chemistry and spectral) commenced. The field campaign is delayed due to a number of challenges. Addressing these challenges is a major focus of the consortium currently.
The project has implemented and monitored tasks through operational procedures and tools, various technical, operational and management meetings and consultations of consortium bodies and with the EU Project Officer. The project has designed and implements an adaptive communication strategy, including the development and maintenance of the project website through which the public can access project results and updates. The project also created social media platforms including a Twitter profile, LinkedIn profile, Facebook group, YouTube channel and newsletters to facilitate interaction with potential SIS users and the general public. This increased project awareness and generated useful feedback for the project activities.
A data management plan (DMP) and a plan for exploitation and dissemination of results (PEDR) have been developed and updated yearly in response to developments and feedback. The most recent versions are published on the project website www.soils4africa-h2020.eu.
The project also completed necessary activities to ensure compliance of its activities with relevant ethics requirements and undertakes relevant update actions in this regard.
Relevant stakeholders in soil and land use sector across Africa were identified and contacted for contribution to the development of the Soil Information System. The stakeholders include researchers, farmers, planners, policy makers, private sector agencies, NPOs and NGOs. Information from the stakeholder interviews and discussions were used in defining use cases for the SIS. The project engaged identified stakeholder groups, under the umbrella of the LEAP4FNSSA and CAADP to discuss the strategies for embedding the SIS into the knowledge platform of the FNSSA for effective contribution sustainable agricultural intensification in Africa, and to provide information on the SIS to policymakers and high-level organs to gain their buy-in and endorsement for the SIS. Currently, a sustainability strategy for the SIS is being developed, which will also provide guidance on selection of a hosting institution for the SIS.
The methodology for the SIS was designed and submitted to the EU after presentation to the project steering committee. A summary of further work done is outlined below:
• An inventory of soil data for Africa that is represented in the ISRIC-WDC holdings was carried out
• The soil sampling design was developed, which forms the basis for the ongoing soil survey work in the project. The sampling design is updated when necessitated, for example to access issues inaccessibility to sampling sites arising from security issues. This is done in a systematic way, safeguarding the integrity of results.
• A method for deriving selected soil quality indicators was developed and soil parameters that will be measured identified.
• Detailed guidelines were developed for the field survey and laboratory analysis. These formed the basis for the field protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), instruction manuals and survey management tools that were developed.
• An approach for the assessment of soil pollution with pesticide residues in a subset of soil samples was also developed.
• Laboratory upgrade and training of laboratory staff in spectroscopy were done and health & Safety plan drafted in preparation for the soil analysis.
• A map of agricultural land of Africa was generated in this period, which serves as a mask of continental Africa from which the sampling locations are subsequently selected.
• User requirements for the IT infrastructure was developed and Technical requirements for the SIS were defined and design of the SIS drafted
• Training of supervisors and field teams in the use the field protocols, SOPs and supporting tools have been carried out. The training is ongoing and updates to training materials communicated when these are made.
• The field campaign is ongoing and lab analysis (wet chemistry and spectral) commenced. The field campaign is delayed due to a number of challenges. Addressing these challenges is a major focus of the consortium currently.
Advancement beyond the state-of-the-art
The SIS that will result from the project will provide information useful to service providers in the agricultural sector and will thus be an important support for innovations in the agricultural sector in Africa.
The soil sampling design that was completed by the project in Reporting Period 1 has been reviewed as extending the state of the art and an efficient sampling design.
The Survey Data Management Tool (SDMT) is developed specifically for the project to manage the field campaign at country, regional and central coordination (pan-Africa level). It is a fully functional tool that can be used/adjusted for any other large scale inventory in principle.
The SIS that will result from the project will provide information useful to service providers in the agricultural sector and will thus be an important support for innovations in the agricultural sector in Africa.
The soil sampling design that was completed by the project in Reporting Period 1 has been reviewed as extending the state of the art and an efficient sampling design.
The Survey Data Management Tool (SDMT) is developed specifically for the project to manage the field campaign at country, regional and central coordination (pan-Africa level). It is a fully functional tool that can be used/adjusted for any other large scale inventory in principle.